Deandre Ayton confided his ill-being on the sidelines of a charity operation in the Bahamas, where he donated $ 10,000 to fund initiatives to support students, teachers and schools in his native country.
The Suns pivot seems worn out from being regularly at the center of controversy, which has been numerous since the start of his career, between his non-extension before the last year of his rookie contract during the 2021 offseason, and his falling out. repeated in the postseason with his former coach, Monty Williams. This season again, the latter ended up relegating him to the bench in the series against Denver, preferring Jock Landale to face Nikola Jokic. His teammate was also moved by how Deandre Ayton could be seen from the outside.
In an interview with Eyewitness News Bahamasthe interior of Phoenix did not mince words to express his feelings and said he was determined to take advantage of this offseason to change mentalities about him.
“I have the feeling that the whole world hates me in a certain way”, he thus bluntly let go. ” I’m the guy a lot of people are pointing to. I see it and I feel it. But that’s what I’ve mostly been working on, five to six days a week since we lost, to motivate myself to change what people think of me. No matter how you say it, I feel like I don’t have a fan and I feel it because the whole world is saying it. My goal for the summer is to change that discourse. Unlock everything that can be unlocked and focus on me, to change all that”.
Support from Frank Vogel and Bradley Beal
As he prepares to celebrate his 25th birthday, Deandre Ayton will be able to rely on a new dynamic to help him achieve this objective, with a new coach, Frank Vogel, who knows the importance that his position 5 can have alongside his major trident Beal-Booker-Durant.
He had also insisted on this point during his introductory press conference, slipping that he would be an element ” essential “ of his device, both in defense and in attack.
Another newcomer, Bradley Beal also had a note for him, to remind him that the Suns will need him, and will therefore do what is necessary to support him and help him reach his potential.
“He is a very talented player. He is one of the best pivots in the league and a willing defender. I think it’s an art that got lost in our game. Its impact will be huge this year for us”, he said.
Words that Deandre Ayton probably needed to hear…
| Deandre Ayton | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2018-19 | PHX | 71 | 31 | 58.5 | 0.0 | 74.6 | 3.1 | 7.1 | 10.3 | 1.8 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 16.3 |
| 2019-20 | PHX | 38 | 33 | 54.6 | 23.1 | 75.3 | 3.9 | 7.6 | 11.5 | 1.9 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 18.2 |
| 2020-21 | PHX | 69 | 31 | 62.6 | 20.0 | 76.9 | 3.3 | 7.2 | 10.5 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 14.5 |
| 2021-22 | PHX | 58 | 30 | 63.4 | 36.8 | 74.6 | 2.6 | 7.7 | 10.2 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 17.2 |
| 2022-23 | PHX | 67 | 30 | 58.9 | 29.2 | 76.0 | 2.6 | 7.4 | 10.0 | 1.7 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 18.0 |
| Total | 303 | 31 | 59.7 | 26.3 | 75.5 | 3.0 | 7.4 | 10.4 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 16.7 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
